Chapter 2 – Two Peas in a Mob
Tony smiled into Ziva's damp hair, readjusting his grip around her waist.
"What?" Asked Ziva.
"Nothing."
Ziva smiled and rolled in Tony's arms so she lay on her stomach instead of her back. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it after a quick thought. She felt like saying something sentimental, but couldn't think of anything. She couldn't say, 'what do you think our lives would be like if we never met'. She may as well say, 'I wonder how different our lives would be if my brother never killed Caitlin'…
"Ziva?" Asked Tony looking down at his lover, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Do not worry."
"What're you thinking about?"
"No one."
"No one? Ah, you are thinking about someone. Used to be me; I feel hurt Ziva." Joked Tony.
There was a long silence; a peaceful silence, but a small tension slowly seeped in, threatening to take control of Ziva's words.
"Ari."
The name escaped her lips before she could stop herself. The silence was deadly. Mentally cursing herself Ziva prayed Tony hadn't noticed.
"Oh," Muttered Tony, "him." His mind filled with hatred so pure, so deep, so powerful he hadn't realised his grip around Ziva's body was tightening as a result.
"Tony," Winced Ziva, "you're hurting me."
He slackened his grip at once and muttered an apology.
"It's just… Kate." He sighed.
"I know Tony. I'm sorry."
"I know you are Ziva," Tony kissed the top of her head. "Or you never woul-" He cut himself off abruptly.
"Have killed Ari?" Ziva was briefly happy Tony did not know the pain caused by killing her half-brother. To him he was a terrorist, nothing more. Ziva wondered what he'd do if he knew of her blood connection to the man that murdered Caitlin, and decided she didn't want to find out.
The silence that followed Ziva's words was not a good one, and was only broken when Ziva started to sniffle, silent tears forming in her eyes.
One month, and Fifteen days earlier
Ziva sat at the small desk, head in hand, elbow on desk. She was completely bored, and sitting through another sexual harassment meeting wasn't helping. She remembered the last one, a small smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. Maybe she could get away with licking Tony again- probably not, and thinking about it, Tony'd probably enjoy it.
"As I'm sure you're all aware," droned the blonde woman (Vanessa), "there are three categories of physical contact. Green Light: normal behaviour. Yellow Light: borderline behaviour, for example, hugging someone." Vanessa was interrupted when Abby stood her hand raised from the elbow up. "Yes?"
"What do you have against hugging? Every one of these that I go to, says no hugging, but I don't see what's so bad about hugging."
"Well Miss…"
"Abby."
"Well, Abby, your co-workers might find it offensive, uncalled for, and inappropriate."
"But they don't… do you?" Abby looked around the room.
There was a chorus of 'No's'.
"Good!" Said Abby, her normal cheerful self, and before Vanessa could stop her she went off and hugged Ziva, Tony, McGee, Jenny, and Gibbs.
"Abby, this is very important. You must ask permission before making any physical contact."
"What if I were to ask permission for all future contact, like, Gibbs, do I have permission to hug you in future."
"Corse, Abs." Smiled Gibbs.
"No, you must ask permission, every time."
"Like, every, every time?" Asked Abby.
"Yes."
Abby huffed and sat down.
"And Red Light: deliberate, unwelcomed, and strictly inappropriate touching." Ziva laughed at the memory of Tony jumping from his seat, wiping his cheek. "Is there something funny, Miss…?" Everyone turned and looked at Ziva, who made eye contact with Tony before answering.
"Ziva David. I was laughing at a… ahh, a personal joke. Between me and a co-worker."
"And that joke would be?"
"Just remembering what happened at this point last time." Tony Explained as he leaned back and put his head on the edge of Ziva's desk.
"Which was?" Asked Vanessa.
"This." Said Ziva and she leant forward and licked Tony on the side of the face. The reaction was perfect. Tony jump a foot in the air and wiped at his face, Gibbs, Jenny, and Abby let out small laughs, McGee looked shocked, Vanessa almost yelled 'Miss David!' and everyone else gaped.
"Do you normally act in such way to your co-workers?!"
Ziva turned to her right where Abby sat, a smile on her face. "Does Tony count as a co-worker?"
Abby snorted and Gibbs chuckled.
"That's a good question, David." Smiled Gibbs.
Present
Ziva laughed through her tears, and brought a hand up to his shoulder.
"What's so funny?" Asked Tony.
"Just thinking."
"You seem to be doing that a lot lately."
Ziva just smiled.
"Tony?" Asked Ziva after a small pause.
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Ok."
"When you think about me, what goes through your mind?"
"Ahh…" Tony thought.
Ziva…
"…Memories."
Ziva smiled and kissed Tony lightly then went back to her thoughts.
Eleven months, and Twenty days earlier
Ziva stood face to face with Tony. He looks at her, his eyes, sad, broken, and begging for sympathy.
"You ever lie to someone you love, Ziva?" He asks in a low whisper,
Ziva thought, "Yes." She replies, but in her mind she adds 'Everyday, Tony. I lie to someone I love everyday.'
"They ever forgive you?"
Ziva swallowed. "They never found out."
The next day
Ziva walked into the men's room and closed the door.
"You know, I saw this on Cine-a-max once." Said Tony, trying to lighten the mood.
"So what happens now?"
"They play some funky music and then you say 'I have been watching you from afar'."
"Well I've been watching you from afar Tony," Said Ziva as she walked closer to him. "Which is why I know how much you cared for Jeanne."
Tony chuckled, "Oh, your timing is impeccable, Ziva."
"And how much it hurt when she left. So; what happens now?" Ziva leans against the sink as Tony finishes cleaning his shirt and moves to a urinal.
"I said, I'm fine."
Ziva walked to him and put a hand on his shoulder, turning him to face her. "You are not fine." She states, "You are still deeply troubled."
"Even if I was, this bothers you because..?"
"Because you are my partner." Because I don't like seeing you so hurt. "And because you made a grave error in judgement, falling in love with that girl!" Continued Ziva pacing the space.
"If this is a pep-talk I give you a D-minus."
"And right now it is very clear you are still hanging on to her."
"I see the confusion. These are called feelings, Ziva." Said Tony, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Feelings you need to let go."
"That easy huh?"
"Tony," Tried Ziva, "Even if, by some miracle, Jeanne did end up forgiving you, would you be willing to be Tony DiNardo, full time, to leave your entire life behind for her!" Ziva stepped forward. "You did not think this through."
"Didn't you tell me that the heart wants what it wants?"
"No. Actually I didn't."
"Well it does." Whispered Tony.
I know "Well it shouldn't."
"Really." Asked Tony standing to his full height. "This coming from the woman who fell in love with the dead man walking."
Ziva was shocked. She couldn't look him in the eye. She was afraid she might start crying.
She looked at his lips and had the sudden urge to kiss him, but resisted. "You crossed the line, Tony." And she walked to the door.
Two months later (approx)
Ziva leaned against the vending machine with Tony, and asked a question that had bugged her for days.
"Do you ever think about soul mates?"
"They were on Decker right? Big hit, mid-seventies, sort of a disco thing? Sing a few bars, I'll get it."
"You'll never get it." Sighed Ziva, trying to hide her disappointment.
Two months later (approx)
Tony and Ziva looked as Jeanne was escorted to the lifts, her pace quickening when she saw Tony.
"Be a man, Tony."
"She accused me of murder." Whispered Tony.
"Who is the bad guy? Be a man. Go tell her what she needs to hear." Go tell her that you love her and you're sorry, and you'll do anything to make it up to her.
Seven months later (approx)
Ziva lay in the sun, reading a book by the pool-side. She heard the familiar sounds of a camera shutter.
"You're googling again." She said as a shadow fell over her.
"A book. How McGee-ish of you."
"You're in my sun."
"You'll thank me later. Come on let's go." He bent over her and grabbed her book.
"If you value that hand, I suggest you back away slowly." She stopped paying attention to what was being said.
Contrary to what she might say; she rather liked being googled by Tony, whilst in her swimmers. She especially liked it when he bent over her and put his hand on her hip, looking at her with an incredibly sexy look on his face.
Present
Her thoughts were broken by Tony speaking. "What goes through your mind when you think about me?"
Ziva answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Love."